Building the Future, One Tiger Professional at a Time
In the heart of the McKeesport Area School District, a quiet revolution is taking place. It isn’ t happening in rows of silent desks or through standardized testing alone. Instead, it’ s in a bustling pre-school laboratory, inside the engine bays of damaged vehicles, and within simulated hospital rooms. The McKeesport Area Technology Center( MATC) is where the traditional " student " label is being traded for a more ambitious title, Professional.
Innovation at MATC is driven by data and community input. Following a comprehensive survey of parents, local employers, and labor trends, the center launched two high-stakes programs this January: Protective Services and Aspiring Educators.
“ We are teaching students how to be the calmest person in the room during someone else’ s worst day,” says Dr. Shannon Wintruba, instructor for Protective Services. Her students aren ' t just reading about heroes; they are training to be them, mastering everything from incident command to EMT protocols.
Down the hall, Jason Smith’ s Aspiring Educators are tackling the regional teacher shortage head-on. By examining the " art of teaching " through a three-year lens, these students can earn up to 12 college credits, providing a debt-defying jumpstart to their careers.
Engineering Tomorrow: A Relaunch for Innovation
MATC is thrilled to announce the official relaunch of its Engineering program in 2026-27. Under the leadership of instructor Steve Tomkowitz, this program is designed to immerse students in the high-stakes world of problem-solving, design, and technical innovation.
Two students in the first responder gear.
The curriculum will move beyond basic concepts to provide a rigorous, hands-on exploration of mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering principles. Students will engage with industry-standard technology to prototype solutions for real-world challenges, fostering the critical thinking and technical expertise required for success in collegiate engineering programs and the global workforce. This relaunch represents MATC’ s commitment to staying at the forefront of technical education and providing McKeesport students with the tools to engineer the future.
A Campus of Living Laboratories The " Tiger " brand is synonymous with hands-on service. Nowhere is this more evident than in the center’ s established career pathways. Several programs are open at various times throughout the school year to offer their services to the community.
• The Builders: Under the guidance of Brian DeCecco and Steve Tomkowitz, Building Construction students gain mechanical aptitude by remodeling a modular home on-site. Their work maintains the very infrastructure of the district, from refurbishing classrooms to keeping the Tiger Tots’ playground safe.
• The Builders: In the Autobody( Collision Repair) program, led by Randy Bowser, students master the precision of vehicle
MCKEESPORT CITY OF MCKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL NEWS DISTRICT NEWS
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Tiger Tots enjoy making crafts in Child Care.
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